Grassland ecosystem

B.Sc First Year Environmental Science Syllabus.

1. GRASSLAND ECOSYSTEM
DR.ASMITADASPUTE.

2. INTRODUCTION
•According to Ecological Society of America (1952), “grassland is a
community dominated by grasses or grass-like plants”.
•Approximately 24 percent of total vegetation cover is grassland.
Grasslands occupy about 45.0 million sq. km. area throughout the
world in the tropics, temperate and alpine regions (Shantz, 1954).
•Natural grasslands occur in temperate zones with annual rainfall 25 to
80 cm, while in tropics they may be found in areas receiving rainfall
up to 150 cm. The favourableconditions for development of a stable
grassland are frequent rainfall and sufficient warmth during the
growing sea

3. GRASSLAND ECOSYSTEM

5. COMPONENTS OF GRASSLAND ECOSYSTEM
•The components of the Grassland Ecosystem are discussed below:
•1. Abiotic Components:These are non-living thing components
consist of carbon, hydrogen, sulphur, nitrogen and phosphorous etc.
•

6. 2. BIOTIC COMPONENTS:
•(I) Producers:The primary producers of food are the grasses such
asAristida, Cynodon, Digitaria, Desmodium, Setariaetc. If herbs and shrubs
are present, they also contribute to the primary production of food.
•(II) Consumers:The consumers in a grassland ecosystem are of three
levels.
•(a) Primary consumers:These feed directly from the grasses (grazing) and
include herbivores such asCows, Buffaloes, Goats, Rabbits, Mouseetc. and
alsoinsects, termites, centipede, millipedesetc.
•(b) Secondary consumers:These consumers are the carnivorous animals
such as snakes, lizard, jackal, foxes, frogs etc. which feed on the primary
consumers.
•(c) Tertiary consumers:Hawk, Eagles and vultures constitute the tertiary
consumer in the grassland ecosystem which preys upon the secondary and
primary consumer

10. (III) DECOMPOSERS:
•The organic matter of the grassland is decomposed by the microbes
like actinomycetes, fungi (Mucor, Aspergillus, Rhizopus, Penincillium,
and Cladosporium), aerobic and anaerobic soil bacteria etc. They
release the minerals back into the soil thus making the soil fertile.

11. SPECIAL FEATURES
•(1) They can grow in both hydrophytic and xerophytic habitats
•(2) Many of the grasses show xeromorphic adaptations
•(3) Their life span is from annual to perennial
•(4) Habit varies from trailing to erect
•5) Size varies from small to dendroid

12. THANK YOU